Fertility

Infertility

There is an array of natural treatments that can help with fertility issues either prior to or in conjunction with conventional reproductive care. Consultation with an integrative specialist can provide evidenced-base recommendations that will not interfere with conventional fertility care and are safe to use while trying to conceive.

Acupuncture can improve menstrual cycles & ovulation, decrease time to conception, improve egg quality, and decrease risk of miscarriage as well as improve IVF outcomes.

Preconception

Despite common belief, research has consistently found that changes to diet, lifestyle and starting prenatal supplements are most beneficial when started prior to conception, best up to one year before. In addition, when coming off hormone contraception or if you have a prior diagnosis of thyroid issues, PCOS, or endometriosis, it may take longer to conceive and acupuncture, herbs, or hormones may be necessary for successful conception. Knowledge about the physiology of conception, cycle/ovulation tracking and timing of intercourse can decrease time to conception. Finally, the uterine environment, as established by mom’s diet & lifestyle create lasting health effects on the fetus that can impact, either positively or negatively, the child’s lifelong health. Set yourself and your baby up for success by planning for your pregnancy with a preconception visit.

Pregnancy

Acupuncture and other treatments can help with numerous physical and mental/emotional symptoms that may occur during pregnancy, including nausea, fatigue, headache, musculoskeletal pain, swelling, constipation, high blood pressure, blood sugar issues, miscarriage, breech pregnancy, and labor induction.

The Fourth Trimester

“Is ours not a strange culture that focuses so much attention on childbirth– virtually all of it based on anxiety and fear–

and so little on the crucial time after birth, when patterns are established that will affect the individual and the family for decades?”

~Suzanne Arms

The “Fourth Trimester” is broadened to include the weeks, months, and years after pregnancy, between pregnancies and following a woman’s last pregnancy. Referred to elsewhere as “postnatal depletion”, this is not an illness or disease that requires treatment in most cases. Instead, it falls into a nebulous category with other periods of normal hormonal flux that women experience throughout their lives, including PMS, pregnancy, and perimenopause. Like these issues, a given woman may experience a range of symptoms on a continuum, similar to a bell-shaped curve, with some women experiencing little to no distress, most women experiencing moderate distress, and some women, significant amounts of distress. The degree of distress will often inform the amount of intervention needed, with the goal of re-establishing the foundations of health & wellness post-childbearing.

It is important to acknowledge that in the US we often put more focus on pregnant women and then switch this focus to the baby immediately after delivery when mother-focused support is virtually non-existent. We as a culture ignore the needs of new mothers and make many demands on them that are prevented in other cultures out of respect for the postpartum period, a time recognized & honored as distinct from other times in a woman’s life. Curiously, these other cultures have virtually no post-partum disorders compared to 50-85% of new mothers in industrialized nations like the US. During this time, protective measures, so-called “mothering the mother”, help support and care for new mothers. Specifically, the practice of “lying in” relieves women of their normal workload and an implied duty to entertain visitors allows time for recuperation, rest, and family bonding. Not only does our culture minimize the significant change that occurs as a woman becomes a mother, but there is often an unspoken belief that any woman who needs post-partum support has somehow failed when in reality we as a culture have failed her.

Of course, having a children is hard work physically, emotionally, and mentally. Few women can honestly say they did not experience any of the symptoms listed below, but by drawing attention to these issues, I am hoping that women will address these concerns sooner, rather than later, not waiting for a crisis to occur to care for oneself; by taking the time to prioritize oneself to be healthier as an individual, mother, partner, colleague, & friend.

Symptoms may include, but are not limited to:

Fatigue

Sleep dysfunction

Poor motivation, concentration, memory

Mood swings

Menstrual irregularities

Inability to lose weight

Urinary & vaginal issues

Low libido

Hot flashes/night sweats

Evaluation & Interventions:

I have continued my education with advanced certifications in caring for women through their reproductive years to help them achieve their goals, from fertility, healthy pregnancy and post-partum support to general health and wellbeing with a focus on healthy aging and prevention of chronic disease.

Individual evaluation and treatment planning will address history and physical, hormones, diet, and lifestyle. Special attention will focus on any issues encountered in previous pregnancies, such as prenatal/post-partum mood issues, blood sugar & blood pressure abnormalities, and nutritional & thyroid deficiencies. These problems can negatively impact a woman’s health and well-being long after the pregnancy & post-partum stages. Special attention is paid to choosing evidence-based therapies which are safe during pregnancy & lactation if needed.

By addressing issues related to the mind & body and integrating the best therapies from the Eastern & Western medical perspectives,my proactive approach seeks to prepare women for future pregnancy or re-establish the foundations of health after years of pregnancy and lactation. Women seeking pregnancy may find that their bodies have changed with age and previous pregnancies and require assistance getting and maintaining pregnancy that was not necessary at a younger age. For women who have finished childbearing, it is possible that she now finds herself in perimenopause, symptoms of which can start in excess of 15 years before the final menstrual period.

Therapiesare selected based on the severity of symptoms, individual risk-factors, and patient preference and may include recommendations for the following:

Social engagement & support

Counseling

Meditation & quiet time

Acupuncture

Aerobic exercise & yoga

Hormone replacement

Pharmacological & non-pharmacological treatment options

Please feel free to contact me today with any questions or to schedule an appointment info@drleighlewis.com and do check out PSI for more information of peripartum mood and anxiety disorders.